Lamont
The golden daze
self-released

Distributed for (free) download on Swedish torrent site The Pirate Bay as well as the band's web site, "The golden daze" tries to be glam pop for the masses, crafted to capture the listener at first listen. Being Malmö based, the band emulates its more successful neighbors, namely The Ark and Melody Club. In this it is successful, but only as an emulation. Despite stabs at punk-laced electro and (oddly enough) swing on the title track, there's not enough originality here to distinguish the band from others. Forgettable as it may be, however, it can also be pretty fun. All tracks are very radio friendly, though none are likely to become radio hits. The production is the album's strongest suit. Aside from a great turn by The Ark's Ola Salo, who gives "Rather do it" (a minor hit in 2006) the kind of behemoth sound that we're used to from these sorts of bands, the rest of the album is produced by Oskar Humlebo (aka Moto Boy). He drenches the band in serpentine rhythms and new-wave synths, which helps to disguise the fact that you're not going to remember many of these songs in a few months. Still, for fans of the over-the-top Malmö based pop sound (like me), there's plenty to like here. Unfortunately, there's just not enough to love.
- Nick James

PopMatters on Melody Club's US debut "At your service": http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/melody-club-at-your-service/

Updated Melody Club tourdates:

04/30 - Studentkåren, Luleå (SWE)
05/11 - Älvan, Avesta (SWE)
05/12 - Dala Riot, Malung (SWE)
05/17 - Snitch, NYC, NY
05/19 - Molotow, Hamburg (GER)
05/22 - Szene Wien, Vienna (AUS)
05/23 - Atomic Cafe, Munich (GER)
05/24 - Lido, Berlin (GER)
05/25 - Siesta, Hässleholm (SWE)
05/26 - Spring Break, Kalmar (SWE)
06/14 - Fett Med Kärlek, Uppsala (SWE)
06/17 - Hamnfestivalen, Oxelösund (SWE)
06/28 - Peace And Love, Borlänge (SWE)
06/30 - Kirunafestivalen, Kiruna (SWE)
06/30 - Stadsfestivalen, Skellefteå (SWE)
07/06 - Gatufesten, Sundsvall (SWE)
07/13 - Arvikafestivalen, Arvika (SWE)
07/14 - Sommarrock, Svedala (SWE)
07/14 - Landskronafestivalen, Landskrona (SWE)
08/03 - Luleåkalaset, Luleå (SWE)
08/18 - Folkets Park, Huskvarna (SWE)
08/30 - Alingsås Gästabud, Alingsås (SWE)

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (02) The Shins - Phantom limb
02. (NY) Lily Allen - Littlest things
03. (08) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
04. (03) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
05. (01) Regina Spektor - Samson
06. (06) The Pipettes - Judy
07. (NY) Badly Drawn Boy - A journey from A to B
08. (07) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
09. (14) Koop - I see a different you
10. (04) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
11. (09) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan said dance
12. (12) The Concretes - Oh no
13. (15) The Jai Alai Savant - Arcane theories
14. (ÅT) Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
15. (17) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
16. (05) Säkert! - Vi kommer att dö samtidigt
17. (11) Kleerup med Robyn - With every heartbeat
18. (10) Klaxons - Golden skans
19. (ÅT) Alex Gopher - Brian Leech
20. (NY) Redo Hot Chili Peppers - Desecration smile

Leaving the chart:
Melody Club - Fever fever
Marit Bergman - Mama, I remember you now
Bloc Party - The prayer
Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
The Cinematics - Keep forgetting

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (05) Regina Spektor - Samson
02. (06) The Shins - Phantom limb
03. (01) The Ark - Absolutely no decorum
04. (NY) Sahara Hotnights - Cheek to cheek
05. (03) Säkert! - Vi kommer att dö samtidigt
06. (02) The Pipettes - Judy
07. (12) Joss Stone - Tell me about it
08. (NY) Tingsek - Proud to be part of these days
09. (04) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan said dance
10. (ÅT) Klaxons - Golden skans
11. (07) Kleerup med Robyn - With every heartbeat
12. (NY) The Concretes - Oh no
13. (09) Melody Club - Fever fever
14. (17) Koop - I see a different you
15. (NY) The Jai Alai Savant - Arcane theories
16. (NY) Marit Bergman - Mama, I remember you know
17. (NY) Pelle Carlberg - I love you, you imbecile
18. (10) Bloc Party - The prayer
19. (14) Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
20. (11) The Cinematics - Keep forgetting

Leaving the chart:
Cold War Kids - Hang me up to dry
Timbuktu - Karmakontot
[ingenting] – Suzanne (Vi kan inte gå hand i hand)
Weeping Willows - The burden
Juvelen - Hanna
Laleh - November
Superpumas - Clear

Melody Club on tour in the UK:

03/16 - Academy, Newcastle
03/17 - Engine Rooms, Scotland
03/19 - Little Civic, Wolverhampton
03/20 - Engine Rooms, Brighton
03/21 - Water Rats, London

The video for Melody Club's latest single "Fever fever" is now online: http://www.melodyclub.com/

Swedish student radio's top 20 for the 2006 fall semester:

01. The Knife - Like a pen
02. David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
03. Mando Diao - Tv & me
04. Deportees - Missing you, missing me
05. The Streets - Prangin' out
06. The Pipettes - Pull shapes
07. Johnossi - Glory days to come
08. The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
09. Melody Club - Destiny calling
10. Jet - Put your money where your mouth is
11. Peter Bjorn and John - Let's call it off
12. Gnarls Barkley - Smiley faces
13. Regina Spektor - Better
14. Salem Al Fakir - Good song
15. Timo Räisänen - Let's kill ourselves a son
16. The Roots - Don´t feel right
17. Marit Bergman - No party
18. Tingsek - World of it's own
19. The Lost Patrol Band - Automatic kids
20. Koop - Come to me

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (01) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (Ny) Ison & Fille - Hela dan varje dag
03. (Ny) Albert Hammond Jr - 101
04. (07) Laleh - November
05. (02) Johnossi - Glory days to come
06. (03) Regina Spektor - Better
07. (Ny) Babyshambles - The blinding
08. (09) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
09. (06) Salem Al Fakir - Good song
10. (Ny) M Ward - Chinese translation
11. (10) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (hey oh)
12. (Ny) Panic! At The Disco - But it's better if you do
13. (17) 1990's - You're supposed to be my boyfriend
14. (13) Bodyrox med Luciana - Yeah yeah
15. (05) Koop - Come to me
16. (04) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
17. (Ny) Herman Düne - I wish that I could see you soon
18. (Ny) Marit Bergman - Eyes were blue
19. (16) The Streets - Prangin' out
20. (Ny) Emmon - Wake up time

Leaving the chart:
Tingsek - World of it's own
Melody Club - Destiny calling
Asha Ali - Fire fire
Juliette & The Licks - Sticky honey
The Knife - Like a pen
Chingy med Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
Moneybrother - De vet ingenting om oss
Jeremy Warmsley - I promise

Melody Club
Scream
EMI

I've never liked Melody Club and their cheap and nasty synth-driven melodic pop, but their latest (and third) album is much better than I thought it'd be. Saying that, my expectations for it were lower than you can imagine. I've always thought of them to be quite pathetic, but they've become much less so now, which is really in their favour. The hit single of the album "Destiny calling" sounds like something by The Sounds and I can easily picture the song soundtracking a video featuring fast open top cars (after writing this I checked out the video on YouTube and was very disappointed, they've managed to make a very non-anthemic video for an über anthemic song), and I wouldn't be surprised if the Roxette fans of Germany and America will love this. If they'll keep on progressing like this, come their 27th album, and I might just buy it for my niece.
- Simon Tagestam

The nominees for this year's Swedish Grammis have been announced:

Best album:
Anna Ternheim - "Separation Road"
BWO - "Halcyon Days"
Lisa Miskovsky - "Changes"
Marit Bergman - "I Think It's A Rainbow"
The Knife - "Silent Shout"

Best hiphop/soul:
Fattaru - "Mina drömmars stad"
Ison & Fille - "Stolthet"
Mange Schmidt - "Samtidigt, i Stockholm"
Promoe - "White Man's Burden"
Snook - "Är"

Best club/dance:
Basshunter - "LOL <(^^,)>"
Christian Falk - "People Say"
SUMO - "The Danceband"
Sunblock - "I'll Be Ready"
The Attic - "The One"

Best jazz:
Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz - "It's Always You"
e.s.t. - "Tuesday Wonderland"
Jonas Kullhammar Quartet - "Son Of A Drummer"
Koop - "Koop Islands"
Oddjob - "Luma"

Best hardrock:
Backyard Babies - "People Like People Like People Like"
Europe - "Secret Society"
Hammerfall - "Threshold"
In Flames - "Come Clarity"
The Haunted - "The Dead Eye"

Best pop/rock female:
Anna Ternheim - "Separation Road"
Linda Sundblad - "Oh My God!"
Lisa Miskovsky - "Changes"
Marit Bergman - "I Think It's A Rainbow"
Veronica Maggio - "Vatten och bröd"

Best pop/rock male:
Andreas Johnson - "Mr Johnson, Your Room Is On Fire"
Darin - "Break The News"
Eric Gadd - "Eric Gadd"
Håkan Hellström - "Nåt gammalt, nåt nytt, nåt lånat, nåt blått"
Timo Räisänen - "I'm Indian"

Best pop group:
Bo Kaspers Orkester - "Hund"
BWO - "Halcyon Days"
Fibes, Oh Fibes! - "Emotional"
Melody Club - "Scream"
The Knife - "Silent Shout"

Best rock group:
Atomic Swing - "The Broken Habanas"
Johnossi - "Johnossi - With 3 Bonus Tracks"
Mando Diao - "Ode To Ochrasy"
The Refreshments - "24-7"
Whyte Seeds - "Bold As Love"

Best newcomer:
Asha Ali - "Asha Ali"
Basshunter - "Boten Anna"
I'm From Barcelona - "Let me introduce my friends"
Sebastian - Sebastian
Veronica Maggio - "Vatten och bröd"

Best producer:
Anders Hansson & Alexander Bard - "Halcyon days"
Christian Falk - "People say"
Jara Haapalainen - "Brott & Straff Sånger från ett kvinnofängelse"
Joakim Berg & Simon Nordberg - "Changes"
Karin Drejer Andersson/Olof Drejer - "Silent shout"

Read more: http://www.grammis.se/

The latest Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (01) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (02) Johnossi - Glory days to come
03. (04) Regina Spektor - Better
04. (03) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
05. (07) Koop - Come to me
06. (09) The Salem Al Fakir - Good song
07. (NY) Laleh - November
08. (10) Tingsek - World of it's own
09. (17) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
10. (NY) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (hey oh)
11. (11) Melody Club - Destiny calling
12. (15) Asha Ali - Fire fire
13. (NY) Boxyrox - Yeah yeah
14. (NY) Juliette & The Licks – Stick honey
15. (05) The Knife - Like a pen
16. (08) The Streets - Prangin' out
17. (NY) 1990's - You're supposed to be my boyfriend
18. (19) Chingy w/Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
19. (NY) Moneybrother - De vet ingenting om oss
20. (13) Jeremy Warmsley - I promise

Leaving the chart:
The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
Peter, Bjorn & John - Let's call it off
Fat Joe - Make it rain
Lupe Fiasco - I gotcha
David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
Goose - British mode

This week's Swedish student radio top 20:

01. (02) Mando Diao - TV & me
02. (03) Johnossi - Glory days to come
03. (01) Gnarls Barkley - Who cares?
04. (NY) Regina Spektor - Better
05. (05) The Knife - Like a pen
06. (09) The Magic Numbers - Take a chance
07. (19) Koop - Come to me
08. (08) The Streets - Prangin’ out
09. (07) Salem Al Fakir - Good song
10. (06) Tingsek - World of it’s own
11. (15) Melody Club - Destiny calling
12. (16) Peter, Bjorn & John - Let’s call it off
13. (04) Jeremy Warmsley - I promise
14. (18) Fat Joe - Make it rain
15. (12) Asha Ali - Fire fire
16. (NY) Lupe Fiasco - I gotcha
17. (NY) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
18. (20) David & The Citizens - A heart and a hand and the love for the band
19. (NY) Chingy med Jermaine Dupri - Dem jeans
20. (14) Goose - British mode

Leaving the chart:
Supersci - Move on
The Dears - Whites only party
Danko Jones - Don’t fall in love
Firefox AK - The draft

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Refreshments - It's gotta be both rock & roll
02. Orup - Faktiskt
03. Martin Stenmarck - Nio sanningar och en lögn
04. Caj Karlsson & Världens Bästa Band - När sanningar tränger sig på
05. Peter Jöback - Flera sidor av samma man
06. Bo Kaspers Orkester - Hund
07. Helena Paprizou - The game of love
08. Vikingarna - Bästa
09. Jill Johnson - The woman I've become
10. The Boppers - Jingle bell rock
11. Linda Sundblad - Oh my god!
12. Roxette - A collection of Roxette hits! Their 20 greatest
14. Nisse Hellberg - Snackbar blues
15. Anna Ternheim - Separation road
16. Lisa Nilsson - Hotel Vermont 609
17. Lisa Miskovsky - Changes
18. Melody Club - Scream
19. Hammerfall - Threshold
20. Europe - Secret society

This week's top 20 Swedish student radio chart:

01. (06) Gnarls Barkley - "Who Cares?"
02. (01) Mando Diao - "TV & Me"
03. (03) Johnossi - "Glory Days to Come"
04. (NY) Jeremy Warmsley - "I Promise"
05. (05) The Knife - "Like a Pen"
06. (10) Tingsek - "World of It's Own"
07. (04) Salem Al Fakir - "Good Song"
08. (02) The Streets - "Prangin' Out"
09. (20) The Magic Numbers - "Take a Chance"
10. (08) Supersci - "Move On"
11. (09) The Dears - "Whites Only Party"
12. (12) Asha Ali - "Fire Fire"
13. (13) Danko Jones - "Don't Fall in Love"
14. (15) Goose - "British Mode"
15. (18) Melody Club - "Destiny Calling"
16. (19) Peter Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off"
17. (Ny) Firefox AK - "The Draft"
18. (ÅT) Fat Joe - "Make It Rain
19. (NY) Koop - "Come to Me"
20. (16) David & the Citizens - "A Heart and a Hand and the Love for the Band"

Leaving the chart:
Fattaru - "Hörde jag skål"
Ying Yang Twins med Wyclef Jean - "Dangerous"
Lily Allen - "LDN"
Deportees - "Missing You, Missing Me"